Slender Ant vs Buff-tailed Bumblebee

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Slender Ant Buff-tailed Bumblebee
Scientific Name Myrmica scabrinodis Bombus terrestris
Order Hymenoptera Hymenoptera
Family Formicidae Apidae
Size 3.5-5 mm 11-22 mm
Habitat Grasslands Farmland
Diet Seed Feeders Nectar Feeders
Regions Europe, Western Asia Europe, Asia, Africa
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Slender Ant

A medium-sized red-brown ant with coarsely sculptured cuticle, common in grasslands across Europe. Colonies are typically monogynous with a single queen. Workers forage close to the nest in tussock grass.

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Did You Know?

This species is an important host for the Dusky Large Blue butterfly in wetland habitats across Europe.

Buff-tailed Bumblebee

A large, familiar bumblebee with black fur, a yellow collar, a yellow abdominal band, and a distinctive buff-white tail. It is one of the most important commercial pollinators in Europe.

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Did You Know?

This bumblebee can learn to pull strings to access food and then teach the technique to other bees, demonstrating a form of cultural transmission.